Thursday, September 17, 2020

Writing Advice from the Writing Support Sisters- Authors of the Cabin Fever Anthology




Renee Pellegrino

Well, for years I hated Zombies, and you ask what does writing have to do with Zombies. Often I refer to the Night of the Living Dead. When the dead walked they were sure slow and the only way to kill them was to aim for the brain —it was game over but boring. On the day I tuned in to watch the first episode of the Walking Dead to get another good laugh. Sometime happened when Rick Grimes strolled down in his sheriff’s car and there were over a half dozen empty cars with many dead people.   I stood in the middle of my room mesmerized and could not move until the episode ended . My advice is: If you can hook a reader who had no interest in romance or whatever you write, if you get them to love what you write--you will have that reader for life.  (Trust me nine seasons later. )

Cynthia Carver

How many times have you heard, ‘You need a critique group.”? A word of caution about critique groups, not all are beneficial and might teach you lessons about self esteem and worth instead of writing. The first group I belonged to included a large variety of genres and skill sets. Over half offered critiques like ‘oh, i can’t wait to read the next chapter.’ Umm wait - where was the critique? The other half were brutal, yet if you turned in the same piece corrected they would tell you to rewrite and then it would be the same as the original. Save yourself from the headache and get a couple buddies to beta read after you finished your project and not before. You are good enough to tell your story. Your grammar will improve.  You can do it.

Stephanie Spicer

Use social media to your advantage in determining marketing strategy and networking.  By following other authors, both professionally published and indie, will help you to learn how to promote your books. This is especially important for indie authors since you will be in charge of everything, but contracted authors shouldn't skip this either as some publishing houses leave the marketing up to the author.  Social media can also help you by getting you in touch with other authors.  I recommend joining as many writing/author related groups you can that fit your genre.  Get to know the people there.  They may become some of your best supporters and friends.  You just might write an anthology together one day.

Sunny Abernathy

My Advice is Hustle. My Motto: Hustle like a little kid selling lemonade. Part of the hustle is networking. Like fellow author Stephanie Spicer says, use social media to your advantage. Make friends, take advice, ASK for advice, and don’t take everything personally, they are critiquing your SKILL ,not you.  I was online networking and advertising for other authors a whole year before I needed to start branding myself. It is not possible for many indie authors to spend a hundred dollars on advertising to sell a three dollar ebook. Instead there is your network of writers, designers, bloggers, instagramers, and newsletter senders you have befriended (just to name a few.) 

Unfortunately, I see a lot of writers online “I want to write a book, where do I start?”  And yes it’s great you have a story to tell and want to write it but when you start telling the aspiring author the story is the easy part you feel like you are the one that took a pin to their balloon. IF you know you need to sell your book before you even write it, if will shift your mentality for the best.  

Roxi St. James

Find your team for success!  Cynthia mentioned having a couple of buddies to beta-read.  Those people are part of your team.  If you implement a team in every level of writing, you'll be on your way to success.  Have a couple of people that can help you brainstorm and plot, then have someone (could be the same people) you can turn to if you encounter problems while you're writing.  Then those buddies that are beta-reading for you.  Finally, find an editor you trust for the final pass through.  Find a writer (or several) that you look up to and follow their example and any advice they give.  Don't take all advice at face value, but don't dismiss it either.  By figuring out your team, you'll know you're that much closer to success.  Writing is for the most part a solitary activity and when you're the only one reading it, imposter syndrome can creep up fast.  By having your team in place, they can let you know you're on the right track!  Good Luck and press on!


Cabin Fever Anthology

Genre: Romance/Love stories
Publisher:  Indie Amazon
Date of Publication:  Aug 7, 2020
ASIN:  B08FGGGWDF
Number of pages:  347
Word Count:  89,119
Cover Artist:  Donna Parrish
@ DJASP Book Covers


REWRITE - Renee Pellegrino

Savannah Giuseppe, best-selling author is summoned home. She returned to the cabin remembering the magic of Earth Day and the man who broke her heart.

WORTH IT! - Stephanie Spicer

High school sweethearts, Robin and Cody Carmichael thought their marriage could overcome any obstacle. The only problem is Robin doesn't remember this hurdle.

HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE - Cynthia Carver

Every Friday night, tarot reader Selena is at Nettie's Diner. Steven visits her for a reading about his son. Fate intervenes in their destinies.

UNEXPECTED FAMILY - Roxi St. James

After a special night with a handsome stranger, Piper Kendrick is shocked when she discovers his identity and he is closer than she ever expected.

LIAR IN THE CABIN - Sunny Abernathy

In 1908 Beth is expected to look forward to marriage. She'd rather be independent, which means staying away from Benjamin.



Excerpt UNEXPECTED FAMILY - Roxi St. James

There she was again.  His mystery girl.  His pulse quickened.  What was it about her that was so appealing?  She was beautiful, yes, but what gave her the aurora of magic that drew him in?  He took another sip of his drink.  He must be going crazy.  Or he was getting drunker than he thought he was.  He hadn’t even spoken to her yet.
He glanced back up in her direction.  Something upstairs had definitely upset her.  She paced back and forth from the bar like a caged tiger.  Anxious energy that didn’t have an outlet.  He could only imagine what that energy might feel like if she directed it toward him.  He cleared his throat and readjusted himself on the stool.  He didn’t need to obsess about her.  He should probably just head home and start working on one of his briefs waiting on him.
She found a seat at the other end of the bar.  One hand tapped the bar while with the other she threw back a shot, downing it in one go .  She said something to the bartender, and he refilled her glass.  She downed that one too.  She better watch out at the rate she was going.  He knew that kind of mood and it usually led to no good.
Just as she signaled the bartender for another refill, a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.  A man was approached.  Grant’s muscles tightened, but he forced them to relax. 
He couldn’t keep from watching, as the guy leaned on the bar, invading her space.  She shook her head and leaned away.  Clear signs she wasn’t interested, but the guy didn’t get the message.  The closer he leaned in, the more she leaned away.
Without thinking, Grant stood and walked around the bar towards them.  His brain told him to leave it be, but his legs had other plans.  He was just going to scare the jerk away and that was it.  As he approached them, he could hear the wanna-be Casanova trying his hardest.
“Come on, baby, you look like you could use a good time,” he crooned.
Grant smirked as he approached them.  “Sweetheart, there you are!  Did you start without me?”  He stepped up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.  She jumped and he leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek.  “Just go along with it,” he whispered into her ear before standing back up.
The man just looked at Grant and sneered.  “You can’t be with her.  You’re old enough to be her father.”
Grant straightened to his full 6’2” and peered down at the player.  “Who says I’m not?  Be gone, kid.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he turned and walked off muttering, “Her loss.” 
Grant took the seat beside her.  “On behalf of my sex, I am sorry you have to deal with jackasses like that.”
She sat and stared at him for a minute, wide-eyed.  “Thank you.”  Her quiet voice was sweet and musical.  “It’s not the first time, but it’s nice to be rescued by someone so…” Her brows drew together in concentration.
“Old?” he offered with a smile.
She returned it with a little chuckle.  “Tall.”
He grinned.  “Well, you got me there.  Now, you have a decision to make.”
Her smile started to fade.  “I do?”
“Yep.  I can sit here and deter other hunters for you, or I can bid you good evening and be on my way.  Totally up to you since I’ve succeeded in my act of gallantry.”
Her smile bloomed again.  “You can stay.  If you want.”

About Renee Pellegrino:

From the author of Because of You and co-author on the Missing Locket

Born in a small-town Pennsylvania town called Altoona with five German shepherds, August, Roman, Rey, Tori and Sophia. After Covid - 19, she hopes to return to the dog show world.

Storytelling first stated when a priest asked everyone if they had something to say.
Renee told everyone about her brother peeing like a Shamu. Laughter filled the church, but her la Nonna not so much.






About Stephanie Spicer:

Stephanie Spicer is from a military family which meant she spent the majority of her life traveling. She has since made Atlanta, Ga her home and is raising her three kids with her husband who has been the love of her life for over seventeen years.

She's always been an avid reader, finding romance novels when she was fifteen and promptly falling in love. She reads most anything she can get her hands on and when she couldn't find books that matched the stories in her head she decided to start writing her own. Once she did, it was like a light had gone off.

She hopes you enjoy her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.






About Cynthia Carver:

Cynthia Carver, born in Dayton, Ohio to Métis parents and a veteran of the US Navy, puts a paranormal spin on everything she does whether it is ghost hunting or camping. Often the photos she takes and shares on her website have images of other-dimensional beings. Her failure in life is cooking. At her family’s request, she brings items such as paper plates, napkins, and utensils to family gatherings.

Her dyslexia leaks into all phases of her life including her published work. She released the second story featuring her main character, Tracy Richards first. Meet Tracy Richards in Tracy's debut novella, 'The Missing Locket.'

On a timeline, 'Small Bit of Justice' happened to Tracy Richards before 'Missing Locket.' Each novelette, novella, and novel are stand-alone stories.

Each November, Cynthia accepts the NaNoWriMo.org challenge of writing a 50,000-word novel within thirty days. She is a cheerleader for those in the writer's facebook group ‘Writing Support Sisters' who have joined her in the writing madness.

Visit Cynthia's website to keep up to date about future novels, book signings, and travels https://CynthiaCarver.com










Rosa Pearl - Realities of the Paranormal


About Roxie St. James:

Roxi St. James was born and raised in Georgia, but has traveled all over the country.  She has read every romance novel she could get her hands on for her entire life.  After writing privately for just as long, she is excited to make this her debut as a published author.




About Sunny Abernathy:

An overly caffeinated Author and Artist who believes one can never have enough cats or books. Writes "Red Flag" Love stories in historical and contemporary settings. She sometimes gives her characters a Happily Ever After as she did in Cabin Fever Anthology.







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